Latest news with #YuLongInvestments
News.com.au
26-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Cranbourne trainer Clinton McDonald with unraced army preparing for spring
Youth will spearhead Cranbourne trainer Clinton McDonald 's rebuild after the loss of several of his stable stars. McDonald lost some of his best horses in the first half of 2025 for various reasons beyond his control, costing him potential feature wins during the autumn. Last year's Blue Diamond Stakes winner Hayasugi died after complications following surgery while smart three-year-olds Stanley Express and Refusetobeenglish left his stable to race in Hong Kong. McDonald also lost Group 2 winner Angel Capital to the Chris Waller stable after powerful owner and breeder Yu Long Investments bought the exciting three-year-old. 'We lost a lot of good horses,' McDonald said. 'In any stable, that puts a massive hole.' However, McDonald said his stable numbers have improved significantly in recent times with the aid of bloodstock agent Shane McGrath, with whom he combined to secure Hayasugi as a yearling. McDonald said more than 80 per cent of horses on the books have not raced, leaving the stable optimistic of a bumper spring period. 'Shane has been really helping me drive the business and get more horses and it's going well,' McDonald said. 'We've got some really nice young horses coming through. 'It's the most horses that we've had on the books. 'I think there's about 130 horses there and only 19 that have raced there's a lot of young horses there. 'But we've got a good team for the spring.' McDonald's stable has been firing during the late autumn period with seven winners from its last 21 runners, including a winning double at last Saturday's Sandown meeting. Three-year-old filly Ahha Ahha completed the stable's double after two-year-old Miss Ole made up for blowing the start at Warrnambool with a decisive win at her second outing. McDonald said he expected both horses to develop into stakes contenders during the spring.
News.com.au
05-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
The Everest placegetter Growing Empire retired to stand at stud
The Everest placegetter Growing Empire has run his last race and will stand at stud in the spring. Owners Yu Long Investments announced the three-year-old would head to the breeding barn after only 11 starts. Growing Empire won four of his 11 starts and more than $3 million in prizemoney. The Zoustar colt was a Group 3 winner at both two and three but measured up to sprints when placed against the older horses in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes and The Everest last spring. The Ciaron Maher-trained Growing Empire had three unplaced runs in the autumn, finishing fourth in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap and fifth in The Galaxy at his last two outings. Yulong has set Growing Empire's stud fee at $22,000 (including GST) for his first season. 'Growing Empire is a gorgeous, athletic colt with the kind of looks breeders love to see in the (sales) ring,' Yulong's chief operating officer Sam Fairgray said. 'On the track, he showed blistering speed and precocity, winning stakes races in his spring three-year-old season, and he mixed it with the best sprinters in the country. 'Importantly, he has the competitive attitude and toughness we prize in our stallions. 'Being by Zoustar out of a fast Snitzel mare, his pedigree is pure speed on speed. He's a perfect fit for Yulong's roster, and we believe breeders will be as excited about him as we are, especially once they lay eyes on him.' Growing Empire will join the likes of Written Tycoon, Alabama Express, Pierata and Grunt on Yulong's 2025 stallion roster.
